Hello world,

Just wandering in for a bit here and most likely a bit longer.  I've wandered around a couple forums and lurked here a bit.  Anyway, before buying a bike more opinions are never a bad thing, especially those knowledgeable about a certain subject.

Anyhoo, for the intro, I'm mid 20's, messed around on dirt bikes and other things before, I had a 110cc honda ct-70 for a bit (now stolen) that after a little love was put into it would hold 50 on a flat, but other than that, not a ton of street moto experience. 

Later today if all goes well, a guy from craigslist should be riding this guy over to visit me.  Hopefully he won't ride away with it too. 

Not great shape aesthetically, but I really don't care about that.  First order if it does become mine will be to touch the paint, but yeah.  I went and checked it out once already, but it wouldn't start at the time.  Apparently a "friend borrowed a fuse," and after a new fuse, new gas and new plugs he's volunteering to drive it 35 miles to me.  It seemed like an honest mistake, and frankly, he was more bent than I when it wouldn't start.  I did send a lengthy email with a list of things that worked for sure, right? before I went down and checked out the bike, but that's in the past now.

My general conception of the bike was that it was in pretty good condition mechanically, and it seems to me to have been in the hands of a tinkerer.  The brake and clutch levers, bars, and rear turn signals are all aftermarket, as well as the fuel lines look to be clear tubing like one might get in a fish store.  I haven't seen that before, but I guess I don't not like it for any reason.  Markings on the side say it's been down at low speed at least once, definitely on the right and probably on the left I think.   I went through it pretty thouroughly, but didn't see anything leaking at brake lines and such.  Gas tank seemed to be free of rust and shaZam! on the inside.

But yeah.  From the guys with more knowledge than I, anything look out of place?  Run away?  Grab it as quick as I can?  Lend me your wisdom    Asking price was 1000, I've got an envelope with about 870$ in it I'm going to offer him.

And Hi!

Not bad.
It has been in a wreck. You can tell the tail is twisted to the right a little. That's not serious. I have a friend whose bike has been that way for a ling time. rest of frame - ie from wheel to wheel, is straight so it rides fine. The drop is probably why the center tail is missing and it has after market rear turn signals.

That tail center plastic is hard to find and will probably cost $25 when you do find one. So many tails for sale and when I ask about the center piece - no one has it.

Look for other signs of the bike being dropped and work to lower the price. If it runs really well, $850 is probably fine.

I figured no front fender and that were going to be two things I would bring up.  In all honesty, I'll probably just make a thin wood or plastic piece at home for the back, something that sits flush and either glue or mount it in there somehow.  I've noticed that those little suckers aren't too plentiful.

Front fender missing: a reason to drop price. I have a stash of front fenders so that's cheap to get one from me.
Brake lever looks bent - a sign of being dropped. Look at the ends of the bars and levers for scrapes - clear sign of a drop.

One on CL in the Seattel area said "never been dropped" but photo shows a VERY BENT lever. How could that happen if not dropped?

also engine side covers: no emblem on left side. Right side shows road rash.

Good to know about the fender...

I hope it runs good and he drops the price where you can't refuse.  Hey, never know,....

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but the mountain biker in me says that front tire is a directional tread, and it's on backwards?

A few more observations to get the price down:

All reflectors are missing. That is a safety requirement by the DOT and all state laws. (I have plenty to get you street legal again.)
The paint problem looks like a gas spill. Frame was repainted. That year was silver - not black. Heel guards are chromed so they were painted black, too.
Rear fender has been cut off.
I'd replace the rear turn signals with something that a driver behind you can actually see. Those are too small for safety.
The twisted tail could be your biggest issue for dropping the price.

I say yes on the front tire - backwards. Compare to the rear. One of them is wrong and I say the front. There is an arrow on the tire that indicate direction to mount it. Since on backwards, I would not turn it around. The internal wear when you reverse it could make it fall apart. So you need a new front tire. Can we say "Price Drop on aisle 3?" (Some may disagree on reversing it and it would be OK. My personal feeling is tat tires are so important I don't cut corners. In fact, when I buy a bike I always put on new tires.)

About the tires... my Pilot Rd II looks like that on the bike - as if it is on backward - but it is on correctly. So do check the "direction of travel" arrow.

Tank has been repainted yes. He even painted the fuel cap.

Check the sprockets for wear.
Check the color of the oil - he may have recently replaced it but just check it anyway.

These bikes just do not up and blow fuses for no reason. There is something wrong somewhere that made the fuse blow. Keep in mind buying it will then be Your issue to resolve if it keeps blowing.

Front turn signals are all wrong angles. Check out that area to see if you can see why.

8000 miles on a bike of that age? Maybe. More likely the speed has been replaced IMO, considering the repaired other crash damage. have a close look at it to see if the faded needle matches the tacho's needle.

Michael

Just print this out and hand it to him.  After Mister and Adidas are through, guy will take whatever he can get for it!

This is excellent.

I have a focused rundown of things to look at that will tell a bit more of the story.  Good tip on the speedo needle.

He agreed to come up here yesterday, weather pending.  It's 3 and I've heard nothing from him, Gmail chat tells me he's online right now.  I'd imagine once the work day is over we might hear from him.  Sunny weather here now.

I really like the way it looks without the front fender. Ive thought about doing that to mine. Does it serve much purpose? I know noob question sue me.

It keeps water and especially rocks from blasting you and the bike.

Welcome to the site man! I hope you get a good deal on a GS.

I might be a different frame being that the whole frame is black (should be able to tell close up), make sure it matches the title that he brings, if he doesn't have it i wouldn't buy it. it has been crashed the bars don't look stock, along with the other damage that people have pointed out it has been at the very least tipped over.

Should be wandering this way around 7.30pm. 

The intensity can be documented with minute by minute updates 

I think we'll be going in with a bit of a revised budget.  I just talked on the phone, and the understanding is that the seat is going to come off, and if I can find a stress mark in the frame anywhere, he's going home with the bike.

I think I like this forum... whether or not I own this gs in a few hours.

Quote from: knowles on April 11, 2012, 03:04:12 PM
I might be a different frame being that the whole frame is black (should be able to tell close up), make sure it matches the title that he brings, if he doesn't have it i wouldn't buy it. it has been crashed the bars don't look stock, along with the other damage that people have pointed out it has been at the very least tipped over.

From my first visit, I can say the frame was definitely originally the color where the paint has stripped by the petcock.  The frame was not originally black.

It might not be the frame it could also be the plastics don't have any of the rubber grommets that hold them on the frame. (as why the tail looks bent) Its just something to look at, the paint on the frame will tell you right away if it is a spray job or factory.

to check the plastics just try and wiggle them, if they have all the grommets they wont really move much, check for the plastics being broken also if it was downed. also fork oil seals, if the forks are wet looking they might be toast.

i love calvin and hobbes

Quote from: mr. happy on April 11, 2012, 11:10:49 AM
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but the mountain biker in me says that front tire is a directional tread, and it's on backwards?

Those Roadrider tires are mounted correctly, front tires handle braking forces and rear tires handle drive forces.  It's been common practice for years to reverse direction of rotation when mounting front on rear or rear on front.

In the case of the Roadriders they make 3 kinds, front, rear, and a few sizes are universal.  Here's a pic of directional arrows on a universal Roadrider tire showing 2 directional arrows: